Can I use powder coating to increase boolit diameter?

[JohnH]

I shoot a couple of 44 Magnum rifles that have .431 groove diameter (that is actually SAMMI spec for a 44 Mag rifle barrel, go figure) boolits at 431 son't shoot nearly as well as boolist that are 434, but I' don't want to invest in new molds, I like what I got. Is this a viable solution?

[xacex]

Heck ya. Try the air soft bb tumble in the coolwhip container method first. You may need two coats to get it up to .434, but I only see an increase of .002 when I coat so it gets you close with just one coat.

[Yodogsandman]

You don't say which alloy you use but, a different alloy will also increase the "as dropped from the mold" diameter.

[JohnH]

Heck ya. Try the air soft bb tumble in the coolwhip container method first. You may need two coats to get it up to .434, but I only see an increase of .002 when I coat so it gets you close with just one coat. Can you explain this? Sounds like air soft bb's in a plastic tub with powder coat?

[JohnH]

You don't say which alloy you use but, a different alloy will also increase the "as dropped from the mold" diameter. Yes, but I'm not changing alloy for this problem, I'd buy a mold first. I'm sure that sounds hard headed at first, but after casting for 30 years and trying some of everything under the sun as alloy goes, I've settled on WW. Melt the whole bucket into one homogenous melt, make ingots, cast boolits, lube with Felix. Works in everything I've shot it in from 38 Special to 308 at 2000fps. I've found that anything harder than about 10-11 BHN is a waste of material. I absolutely love 2parts lead to one part linotype. I'd go softer, except I use one alloy for everything pistol, revolver, rifle. The overwhelming majority of my shooting is between 600 and 1600 fps. I could likely get away with something not harder that 8 BHN but straight lead is getting harder and harder to come by. I appreciate the reminder, but I like where I'm at. Hope that didn't come off too smart-aleky, certainly don't mean it that way.

[FredBuddy]

JohnH:

I'm doing just that: Either paperpatch or powder coat.

I'm using .452/454 out of the lee mold and bringing them up to about .460 for my 45-70.

So far, so good.

See my "pink boolits are king" post below.

[dragonrider]

Lapping the mold to increase the size is considerably less expensive, and quick. Not that Powder coating is expensive but it is an ongoing expense. Lapping you will do only once.

[bangerjim]

Can you explain this? Sounds like air soft bb's in a plastic tub with powder coat?

Read the stickey on tumble coating. Not enough time or space to explain something that is common knowledge on the thread.

bangerjim

[JohnH]

Read the stickey on tumble coating. Not enough time or space to explain something that is common knowledge on the thread.

bangerjim Thank You, didn't know that was there, I'll more closely next time.

[xacex]

Can you explain this? Sounds like air soft bb's in a plastic tub with powder coat?

It is as simple as it sounds.

[ebner glocken]

Can you explain this? Sounds like air soft bb's in a plastic tub with powder coat?

Here's an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmUHc2XmXbA

Ebner

[leadman]

The Hi-Tek coating can also be used to increase boolit diameter. The Red Copper has alot of solids in it and is the best for increasing size. I do this for several mil-surp rifles.

[prickett]

I shoot a couple of 44 Magnum rifles that have .431 groove diameter (that is actually SAMMI spec for a 44 Mag rifle barrel, go figure) boolits at 431 son't shoot nearly as well as boolist that are 434, but I' don't want to invest in new molds, I like what I got. Is this a viable solution?

Easiest of all is to simply beagle your mold (stick a strip of aluminum high temp tape at each end of the mold to give .001 or .002 more diameter). But, powder coat certainly will increase the diameter too.

[clodhopper]

I get a good increase in diameter useing the blue from smoke4320.
Other colors I have do not bulk up as much, those are pink green and black also supplied by smoke4320.

[Smoke4320]

Yes The Blue I have does seem to go on the thickest.. especially if doing only one coat which I love..

[philzilla]

yes you can works for me

[Spector]

Smoke, is that Carolina blue of Signal blue or both?

The Signal blue I have does yield a beautiful single coating and covers well. Still favor your clear powder coat. but it is hard not to like that beautiful blue as well..............Mike